Zakhiriddin Muhammad Babur

Botschaft Usbekistan, February 14, 2016

Uzbekistan celebrates the birthday of the great poet and educator, a talented military leader and statesman Zakhiriddin Muhammad Babur on February 14. He made a significant contribution to the development of world science and art.

“Kabul divans” and “Indian divans” (poetic collections), memoirs “Baburnama” and his other works had a decisive influence on the formation of the Uzbek literary and artistic thought. The scientific works of Babur allowed creating a comprehensive view of geography, ethnography, flora and fauna of Central Asia, Afghanistan, India at the end of 15th - beginning of 16th centuries.

Zakhiriddin Babur was born in 1483 in Andijan, when he was 12 he became the ruler of Ferghana. He founded a centralized state in 1526 in India, which lasted more than three centuries. Babur ruled this empire only five years, but during this period, he held numerous progressive reforms: prospered Agra and Delhi, built palaces on the banks of Yamuna river, cut taxes, upgraded the water supply system.

Among the scientific works of Babur “Treatise on aruz” is of particular importance; the work is devoted to the study of philological poetry foundations. “Baburnama” is considered rightly as the pinnacle of his creativity, a work which depicted historical events, outstanding personalities, and natural scenery. In addition, it is a kind of encyclopedia, containing scientific information on many aspects of life of that era. Also “Baburname” used tradition and other elements of folklore, is about descriptions of traditions and rituals.

Uzbek people are proud of the outstanding poet and brilliant scientist Babur’s masterpieces, which still are the link of cultural relations between the peoples of Central Asia, Afghanistan and India. In these countries, subject of hundreds of scientific and literary works, movies are dedicated to our ingenious countryman.

The poet’s script works are kept in museums of France, Britain, the United States and other countries. For example, a unique copy of the work “Vakoyi-i-Baburi” was discovered in Iran, which includes “Mubayin”, a treatise on Islamic jurisprudence. The manuscript, accompanied by commentary and a Persian translation, served as the object of further research as an example of calligraphy and book art. Unknown lists of Babur’s divans manuscript were previously found in the funds of Salar Jung Museum of Hyderabad (India).

As a result of Uzbek and foreign scientists’ joint scientific and practical research, copies of the principal manuscripts of our illustrious ancestor’s works were delivered to Uzbekistan, so “Paris list of Babur’s divans”, album “Miniatures for “Baburname” – a winner at international book fairs, “Treatise on aruz” and many others were published here.

Independence gave us unlimited opportunities to explore deeper and fuller precious facets of Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur’s creativity, to make his heritage a property of the international community.